Page 18 of Burned

“Relax, sweetheart, I wasn’t getting racial if that’s what you think. I’m referring to thieves in general. I mean it’s not like the CD magically leaped into your bag.”

“I’m not your sweetheart nor am I a thief you jackass.”

“Name calling won’t make your situation any better.”

Smith was definitely making her act out of character. Sadie wanted to kick him square in the nuts but didn’t want to have assault added on top of what she was already being charged with. Even if she and Carys didn’t get along she couldn’t believe the girl would do something so underhanded, and what was worst, now Rhys would probably think she was a kleptomaniac. “Why don’t you review the tape? You’ll see I was nowhere near the dollar bin.”

He shrugged. “The store manager will have to provide that.”

“I think you’re full of shit. What about all these television monitors. I bet you can look into any store you wanted.”

“Look lady, I’m not going to argue with you. You’re going to have to wait until the police arrive. It’s the mall’s policy to prosecute all shoplifters no matter the value of the item.”

“Am I at least allowed to make a phone call?”

Smith shrugged. “You can’t use our phone. It’s for business only.”

Sadie flared her nostrils. She was re-thinking that kick in the balls. It would be worth it for the brief satisfaction alone. No. As much as he deserved it, she kept her feet planted firmly on the ground. “I meant, may I make a call on my cell phone?”

He shrugged. “Sure why not.”

She dug her phone out of her purse and contemplated calling Rhys. Maybe Carys had beaten her to it already and by now had already told her father that she was a thief. Would he believe her? Finally, she decided to call her sister. Lily was usually cool under pressure.

Her sister answered on the third ring. “Hey, baby girl. Have you dropped off Satan’s spawn yet and decided to come over here after all?”

“Uh…not exactly. I…I…” Before the words could come out, something exploded within her and a sob tore from her lips followed by another and another until her body was heaving with them.

“Sadie! What’s the matter? What happen?” Lily demanded.

From the corner of her eyes, Sadie could see Smith rolling his eyes, unmoved by her display of emotion. She resisted the urge to shoot him the middle finger and tried to relay her story as best as she could. “I-I’m go-going t-to g-g-get arrested.”

“Arrested? Why? Where are you?”

“At the T-Town Cent-Center M-Mall.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I don’t r-really have a c-choice.”

“Hang on, sis, I’ll be there and if they don’t let you go, I’m going to raise the ruckus.”

Sadie sniffed. And she believed her too. Daisy was a lady down to her fingertips, but she could get hood with the best of them. Her hands were shaking by the time she clicked off the phone.

She sat there for several minutes her heart pounding a mile a minute wondering what her fate would be. She’d watched a lot of television specials on women’s prisons and she was terrified. While she didn’t think she was as pretty as her sisters, she considered herself relatively attractive. What would they do to someone like her? Trade her for cigarettes? Or packs of ramen noodles? Would she have to become someone’s bitch?

As these thoughts ran through her head she wanted to throw up in her mouth. She couldn’t go to jail. She wouldn’t survive it. When someone knocked on the door security guard’s door, she thought this was it. They were going to take her downtown and book her.

Smith got up the answer the door while the silent guard watched the monitors in front of him not moving. “Can I help you?”

“I think you’re holding someone here erroneously.” A familiar lilt reached her ears. Rhys! What was he doing here?

“Sir, you’re not allowed back here.”

“If you don’t want a whole team of lawyers to sue this entire mall, I’d suggest you let us in to talk to Miss Flowers,” said another voice with a Welsh accent even thicker than Rhys’s. Who the heck was that?

Smith shrugged. “Fine. But it’s not like it’s going to change the outcome. The lady is being held until a police officer shows up. She was caught red-handed with stolen merchandise.”

“Did you see her taking it? My daughter can clear this up in a second and maybe if you would have given her the chance to explain there would have been no need for all of this,” Rhys raised his voice.

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